Journeys Dec/Jan 2023

HAS A NEW HOME IN

GEELONG

It’s no secret how convenient it is to load up the car and hop aboard the Spirit of Tasmania when visiting the mainland. Now the Spirit has a new home in the thriving bayside city of Geelong, an hour west of Melbourne and a launch pad for the Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road. It’s a road trip that offers endless possibilities.

here you head first will be influenced by arrival time – overnight sailings operate daily with additional daytime sailings September to April – but you’ll get a dazzling introduction at the Geelong Waterfront. A wander along the promenade here is incredibly photogenic, taking in rows of palm trees, yachts and eateries. At Eastern Beach, The Pavilion is great for breakfast, and if conditions are tempting, take a dip in the Art Deco sea baths.

Geelong is compact so base yourself somewhere central like the new R Hotel Geelong and wander on foot to the impressive Geelong Gallery, the futuristic dome of Geelong Library, and the National Wool Museum which celebrates the history of this one-time wool capital of the world.

Finding a good feed is easy too. Little Malop Street is the epicentre of cool bars and restaurants but another hotspot is Pakington Street, a buzzing strip also sprinkled with boutique shops and galleries.

When you’ve had your fill of city action, the Bellarine Peninsula is the place to kick back a gear. Life here is all about the coast (ok, and maybe golf — it has three of Australia’s top ten

The Spiriti of Tasmania

public courses!) so cruise from one chilled town to the next. Portarlington’s wineries are perfect for long lunches with a sea view – try Jack Rabbit or Terindah Estate and stay at the iconic Portarlington Grand Hotel. Queenscliff oozes history and is home to the heritage Bellarine Railway with its Blues Train and gastronomic Q Train. Beaches are everywhere but ‘sandcentral’ is at the twin towns of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove, a dreamy blend of sandcastles and SUP on the sheltered Barwon River, and surfing off the 2km-long ocean beach.

Keep driving west and you’ll hit the biggest surf capital of all: Torquay. Every Easter, the world’s best compete at Bells Beach and while it’s not ideal for beginners, Go Ride a Wave can show you the ropes at more tame beaches nearby.

Torquay marks the start of the Great Ocean Road, one of the state’s best road tripping routes stretching 243km almost to Warrnambool. There are countless things to see along the way but just the drive itself is a joy. Sandwiched by emerald hills and twinkling blue water, the tarmac hugs the coast, linking a string of little towns and beaches.

Rent a paddleboat or canoe on the wide and sheltered Anglesea River, sample some Great Ocean Road Gin in Aireys Inlet or, for a different perspective, hike a few hours (or more) on the 44km Surf Coast Walk and 110km Great Ocean Walk.

It’s not all about the coast. Tucked behind Lorne’s popular beach is the lush rainforest of Great Otway National Park where towering eucalypts and fern-filled gullies hide dozens of spectacular waterfalls. Thrill seekers will also love Lorne’s Live Wire Park with its tree-top ropes courses and possibly the country’s most extreme zipline.

It’s worth driving out to the lighthouse at Cape Otway to spot koalas sleeping in the blue gums enroute to the next and most famous part of this coastline. The seabound limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles live up to their hype but there are many more spectacular rock formations in Port Campbell National Park so take time to stop at every little lookout; the views of sheer cliffs, gorges and grottos are staggering.

Beyond, you’ll pass Warrnambool with its Deep Blue Hot Springs, the exceedingly picturesque fishing village of Port Fairy, and then Portland where excellent clifftop paths offer the perfect vantage point for spotting whales Jun-Oct.

At some point you’ll have to turn the car 180 for Geelong and when you do, spend your last hours at Federal Woollen Mills, just a kilometre from the ferry terminal. The heritage mill complex is perfect for a pre-sail dinner at 1915 or maybe a tasting at Anther Gin Distillery. Bon voyage.

brought to you by Visit Geelong Bellarine and Visit Great Ocean Road

To plan your Geelong and Great Ocean Road trip, visit visitgeelongbellarine.com.au and visitgreatoceanroad.org.au

Terindah Estate

Keeping your eyes healthy is a key part of keeping you safe on the road. OPSM have teamed up with the RACT so members can enjoy great savings on a range of leading optical products.

Balancing income and stability to support your lifestyle in retirement

Retirement is the perfect time to travel and explore new destinations but balancing the need for regular income while trying to preserve the value of your investments can be challenging; especially in an ever-changing financial market environment.

With TPT Wealth cash and income funds, you can take comfort in knowing an experienced in-house investment team reviews funds daily to manage that balance on your behalf. It’s how they’ve been successfully managing investments through economic cycles for decades.

Founded as a Tasmanian trustee company in 1887, TPT Wealth’s local commitment runs deep. The organisation proudly honours its heritage with ongoing work to administer estates and charitable trusts, and with a firm eye on protecting the future became a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles of Responsible Investment in July 2022.

Everyone’s future looks different. There is no way to predict it, but you can make financial choices that help you maintain your lifestyle in retirement. Find out more at tptwealth.com.au.

Tassie Funds that work for you

At TPT Wealth, our range of Cash and Income Funds aim to provide regular, steady income while preserving the value of your initial investment.

With decades of trusted experience, you can take comfort in knowing our expert, in-house investment team reviews our Cash and Income Funds daily, so you can go ahead and focus on enjoying life.

For investment choices you can feel good about, talk to us today.

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether it is appropriate for you or seek independent professional advice before making any decision or acquiring any product. Refer to Fund PDS and TMD for important risk information at tptwealth.com.au. TPT Wealth does not guarantee repayment of capital, performance of the Fund or rates of return. This is a managed investment scheme, not a bank deposit, with higher risk of losing some or all of your money. It may be harder to access your investment in low liquidity periods. TPT Wealth Limited ABN 97009475629 AFSL 234630. A wholly owned subsidiary of MyState Limited ABN 26 133 623 962.

welcome.

ABOUT YOUR RACT

As at 14 November 2022

PRESIDENT Alison Flakemore VICE PRESIDENT Jenny Richardson

BOARD Ralph Doedens, Pieter Kolkert, Sue Smith, Tony Coleman, Keryn Nylander, Mark Grey, Alex McKenzie

RACT GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR Sam James

A word from our Group CEO

I was pleased to see the results of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Road Safety in Tasmania delivered in late October.

The Inquiry was an initiative jointly supported by RACT and Rosemary Armitage MLC and has resulted in 94 findings and 49 recommendations, many of which are recommendations provided to the Inquiry by us on behalf of our members.

With this year’s road deaths up significantly on previous years, advocating for implementation of these findings will continue to be a major priority for us. In particular, we will continue to call on the State Government to:

• bring the best technology to bear on enforcement, deterrence and education on our roads;

• direct fines revenue back into road safety;

• roll out road safety education in all our schools – not just to those that request it;

• embed the tried and tested Safe Systems design elements in every road project;

• set speed limits appropriate to road conditions and apply that consistently across state and council roads;

• have a road safety regime as part of workplace health and safety in every business.

Next year RACT turns 100, and as we look into our past, we can see that the RACT of 1923 was advocating for our members from day one. While the issues of the day may have been different, what remains the same is our purpose to be there for Tasmanians and be a voice when it matters. We’ll continue to be that voice. And on that note, as we head into the festive period, I encourage you to remember the fatal five: speed, alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue and distractive driving. Plan ahead, take plenty of breaks if you are driving long distances and always remember that getting behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous things you’ll do every day.

Mark Mugnaioni // RACT Group CEO

Journeys is published for The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania by Hardie Grant Media, Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 hardiegrant.com

Managing Director Clare Brundle Editor Mary Weaver Art Director Dallas Budde Design Sue Morony Advertising Senior Account Manager Colin Ritchie colinritchie@hardiegrant.com Senior Account Manager Angeline Gleeson angelinegleeson@hardiegrant.com

Printer IVE Group Mailhouse D&D Mailing Services Distribution Australia Post Australia Post No. 100003899

Competition terms and conditions can be found at ract.com.au/competitions. No part of Journeys may be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2021 RACT. The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited or its related bodies corporate (together “RACT”) or any of its directors or employees. Advertisements in Journeys are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RACT accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RACT.

LETTERS

Highway tailgating

In the last few weeks, while driving on the highway, in rain or fine weather, I have been tailgated by P platers. I always leave a fair amount of space between my car and the car ahead of me. Should I get rear ended, I have some space to stop before running into another car. I assumed that this was a basic road rule when driving, especially at highway speed. Is tailgating the new rule of thumb for inexperienced drivers?

S.Langerak // Hadspen

More visibility needed

I would like to see traffic police active, visible and articulating road safety, so as to refresh and update the general public on current driving rules.

Lorraine Ball

More driver training

I doubt the accident rate will change until we have a change of attitude towards driving. A driver’s licence is seen as a right of passage and essential for work and play (all true and good). However, what’s lacking is the skill required to pilot a lethal weapon safely through varying and dangerous conditions. A total overhaul of the licensing process is required, including more comprehensive driver training.

Stewart

Turn off your engines

Has anyone suggested a campaign to encourage drivers to turn off their motor vehicles when stationary when they have no reason to run the motor? Every day I see this. Every day I ask myself, as a population, have we totally lost touch with how things work? So we waste our money, pollute our atmosphere, produce noise pollution and expose ourselves unnecessarily to vibration, sitting in the car. How many of our citizens have heard of carbon dioxide, for example, and how it is produced. Or that running the motor uses petrol. Given that switching off the motor would not in any way interfere with our lifestyles, unless you count the inconvenience of turning the key or pressing the start button. I noticed no change when petrol cost $2.20+ per litre.

I have tried asking people sitting and using their phones if there is a reason why they can’t switch the motor off. It does not go well.

Joanna

Perplexed

SIGNS

No through roads

There is an issue with street signage in Tasmania. The problem is that if you are towing or driving a heavy vehicle like a motorhome and go down a no through road it can be sometimes impossible to turn around when you get to the end of the road.

The solution could be an advisory warning sign attached to the existing street sign saying a turnaround may not be possible for large vehicles.

Keith Didham

been recently erected on the Bass Highway 1.5km east of the Howth roundabout (Northwest Coast) on the eastbound lane. With the maximum speed limit on Tasmanian roads being 110km/h this sign is effectively saying that you can travel up to 115km/h legally but 116km/h is breaking the law. Why encourage a 5km extra tolerance over the maximum legal speed limit of 110km/h if Road Safety Tasmania is serious about encouraging drivers to slow down? Surely the sign should read “111 kmh. Over is Over.”

Ian Pickford // Ulverstone

Images: Austockphoto; iStockphoto

This sign is not helping road users to reduce their speed on Tasmanian roads. The above sign has

Get spooning

Channel your inner woodcarver and craft your very own timber spoon under the tutelage of David and Michelle of Phoenix Creations. The duo host workshops in their Cygnet studio and will teach you everything you need to know as you carve your masterpiece. Open to both beginners and seasoned carvers, Phoenix Creations offers a range of workshops which include tuition, timber, use of tools and a morning tea.

P For more, visit phoenixcreationstasmaniashop.bigcartel.com

Photo: The Tasmanian Tuxedo

what’s on.

YOUR NEW TO-DO LIST

7-15 JANUARY GAME, SET, MATCH

Slip, slop, slap and spend a day in the sun at Tasmania’s premier tennis tournament, the Hobart International. Take a seat courtside to see some of the world’s champion players go head to head as they battle it out to take the top spot in 2023.

15 JANUARY A DAY OUT FOR ‘DON’

Visit the Campbelltown Car Show to see muscle cars, hot rods, classic cars and other special cars that aren’t seen every day. V8 Supercar legend John Bowe will be in attendance, plus live music and kids entertainment. Entry is only $5.

All event details are up to date at time of print, but can change.* For updates, consult organisers directly.

27 DECEMBER 2022–2 JANUARY 2023

TASTE OF SUMMER

Tasmania’s iconic food and drink festival is back at Hobart’s Princes Wharf No.1. Treat yourself to the finest local food and drinks, with live music and waterfront views. Catch the legendary Daryl Braithwaite at the New Year’s Eve bash.

Members save $5 on the Taste of Summer passport. T&Cs apply, see ract.com.au/taste-of-summer to learn more.

17 DECEMBER SPIN AWAY

Put your skates on and roll away at Roll Dance, presented by the Hobart Social Skates community group. Spend the night cruising the supersmooth floor of City Hall and spinning to a night filled with hip hop, R’n’B, funk and old-school tunes.

31 DECEMBER TO 1 JANUARY COUNTDOWN TO MIDNIGHT

Ring in the new year in style at Launceston BeerFest. The Royal Park event runs across day and evening sessions, with over 200 craft beers, ciders, cocktails and wines on sale. There’s also a fireworks display, live music, comedy and food stalls to keep you well entertained until midnight.

Photos: istock (Campbell Town Car Show), @hobart_tennis; @beeerfestau; Russ Tatlow (Spin Away), Tourism Tasmania and Andrew Wilson (Freycinet Marine Farm), Chris Dixon (Wild Light)

Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us on journeys@ract.com.au

Looking for a one-stop shop for your festive shopping? Pili Pala has you sorted with its extensive range of locally made homewares, jewellery, leather goods and even accessories for your furry four-legged friends. Designed by Helen Mansbridge, these limited-edition designs are worth snapping up before they sell out. Prices start pilipalapieces.com.au

Ocean delight

Pop on the waders and head into the water to farm and shuck your own oysters straight from the ocean with Freycinet Marine Farm. Nothing beats an oyster this fresh, particularly when paired with a glass of local east coast riesling. Julia and Giles Fisher and their crew have been serving up their local oysters and mussels alongside other local seafood since 2005. Drop in to the rustic ‘deck’ and treat yourself to some farm-grown oysters, either natural or in a multitude of styles.

Make a note

Read

Wild Light by Grant Dixon is a new photographic book featuring stunning images of Tasmania’s wild landscapes. One for the coffee table.

Listen

The Cygnet Folk Festival returns to the Huon Valley this January showcasing the very best folk music, poetry readings, workshops, and food and wine stalls.

See

Visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery to see local artist Lucienne Rickard’s eyecatching illustrations in her Extinction Studies exhibition.

WHAT’S BLOOMING?

with SADIE CHRESTMAN from Fat Pig Farm

My favourite time in the garden is during long December evenings. The harvest baskets are filled with peas and broad beans, several varieties of small, elegant zucchini, carrots and beetroot, fennel, radishes, lettuce and rocket, coriander and dill, plenty of parsley and… here come the berries: strawberries, raspberries, loganberries, youngberries, sylvanberries, berries I don’t even know the names of.

We’re looking after the young green tomatoes in the greenhouse. Once a week we trim out the side shoots to leave a single leader spiralling up a line of twine to the ceiling. We foliar spray with a diluted mix of seaweed and comfrey tea and side dress them with compost. The bushy eggplants and peppers, cucumbers and melons are given the same care. It’s time to think about winter: the Brussels sprouts are ready to be transplanted and we’ve sown the first succession of cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

Harvest now Berries, berries, berries

Sow now Brassicas, parsnips, last chance for beans

ground up

From ’80s hobby farm to 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year, Pooley Wines has risen to remarkable heights, writes Nola James

From the W

inemaker Anna Pooley was eight years old when she worked her first vintage. It was the late 1980s, and her grandparents had moved from Hobart to Campania, over the road from her childhood home.

Anna’s dad John planted seven rows of pinot noir and 10 rows of riesling at her grandparents’ Coal River Valley property. It was the second vineyard in the area following Domaine A, which set up shop in the ‘70s. “It was a handful of vines to keep [my grandparents] busy and healthy,” Anna says. It worked, too. Her late grandmother, Margaret, stayed on the property until she was 94.

As the family business grew, Anna moved to Adelaide to study agricultural science at Roseworthy, before stints at Wolf Blass and Penfolds.

By the time she returned in 2013 with winemaker husband Justin Bubb, Pooley Wines had a second Coal River Valley vineyard and was thinking about in-house production. “We bought a big shed in Cambridge that we retrofitted into a winery; 2013 was our first harvest from grape to bottle,” Anna says.

That second vineyard, in Richmond, is a little bit warmer than the original site. Pinot noir, shiraz, chardonnay and riesling are grown across both, but they create different single-vineyard wines.

Taking on both sites, the pair set out to double output and embrace organic production. “It’s a commitment to looking after what we have,” Anna says.

The past year has seen momentous change. The winery took out one of the biggest gongs in the business as Halliday Wine Companion’s 2023 Winery of the Year, stepping up from Riesling of the Year in 2022.

It also saw the inaugural release of Bubb + Pooley, Anna and Justin’s second label. “We make wine for Pooley, and a number of other vineyards around the state. We thought, why not buy some of that fruit and make some wines just for us?” she says.

Using traditional concrete wine fermentation tanks, they made a limited release of riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir. “Concrete is used a lot in Italy, and we really loved the textural influence, without that extra flavour you’d get from oak,” Anna says.

The first release turned out so well, they’ve bought a third Coal River Valley site that’ll be run with the same ‘hands-off’ winemaking approach that’s brought so much success in just 10 short years. “There are so many microclimates within the valley, and it works for the varieties we’re really interested in,” Anna says.

Keep an eye out for the first cabernet release from Bubb + Pooley in 2023.

Photos: Matt Scott

FOODIE finds

TOP five

Fun family activities to fill your summer

There’s warm-weather inspiration for every age in Tassie, says Annie McCann

1 FESTIVALE 2023

3-5 FEBRUARY

Launceston comes to life with this three-day-long outdoor event that’s designed to showcase the best Tasmanian food, beer, wine and cider. Family and friends can relax under the historic elm trees in the wide open space of City Park, stroll the stalls, catch live performances and see chefs in action.

2 CATARACT GORGE

The many ways to enjoy Launceston’s very own wedge of wilderness are as varied and exciting as the landscape itself: soar high above the picturesque waterway on the world’s longest single-span chairlift, traverse the bushland, admire Victorian gardens splashed with colour, rinse off in the swimming pool, and fill up at a café surrounded by stunning peacocks.

3 EVANDALE VILLAGE FAIR AND NATIONAL PENNY FARTHING CHAMPIONSHIPS

18 FEBRUARY 2023

The National Penny Farthing Championships will form an exhilarating portion of the 40th Evandale Village Fair, while Pioneer Park will overflow with delicious food and drink, entertainment, face painting, puppet shows and pony rides. Tickets are $15 per adult and free for children under 16.

4 ROYAL TASMANIAN BOTANICAL GARDENS

This Hobart destination boasts a tranquil Japanese garden, duckponds teeming with lilies and –especially popular among the kids – the chilly Sub Antarctic Plant House, featuring looped bird calls and alpine flora. Food options like Sprout Takeaway and Succulent Restaurant will keep hunger at bay, or a family picnic will just as readily fill the gap.

5 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL

10 – 13 FEBRUARY 2023

Expect open boat tours, tall ships and a mighty Parade of Sail. Fine vessels and displays will fill the harbourside, while school groups will build, decorate and race their own wooden boats at Constitution Dock. More than 80 stallholders will sell their wares and various tantalising food and beverage stalls will plate up premium Tasmanian produce.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania (Cataract Gorge), Eric Gaudins (Australian Wooden Boat Festival), Rod Hollingsworth (Penny Farthing Championships)

A mile in THE SHOES OF A

sommelier

Step inside the door of Ogee, Hobart’s newest wine bar, and you are greeted by a soft jazz soundtrack and candles flickering on every table. You start to relax as soon as you step over the threshold – which is exactly the effect Rachelle Guastella is after.

“We want you to feel like a friend being welcomed into our home,” says Ogee’s manager Rachelle, who opened the bar with her friend and colleague Matt Breen (the man behind Sonny wine bar and Templo restaurant). The pair were inspired by the small Italian trattorias and Parisian wine caves they experienced when travelling together in Europe.

Rachelle Guastella wants to make choosing wines as easy as possible for her diners, says Ute Junker

“We wanted to recreate these intimate, cosy spaces where you can walk in, have a glass of wine and pasta and be on your way, or stay for five hours if you want.”

At Ogee, tucked just off the main strip in North Hobart, everything is designed to feel easy. Rachelle describes the food as “rustic yet sophisticated”, featuring everything from handmade pasta to schnitzel and white asparagus with mussel velouté. Rachelle’s wine list is equally approachable, with just half a dozen whites and an equal number of reds.

“I never want people to feel overwhelmed when choosing wine,” she says. “If you have too many choices, people can feel they should know all about the wines, but that’s my job. I’m there to help them.”

The wine list naturally includes Tasmanian wines – “one of the first wines I got in was a chardonnay from Utzinger Wines in the Tamar Valley, a very pure wine with pristine fruit flavours” – but some of Rachelle’s European favourites are also included.

“I have a Tuscan wine called Un Litro, a delicious blend of red grapes that comes in a 1L bottle. It’s hard to create a wine that is this easy to drink but still complex.”

It is not just the wine list that has Rachelle’s fingerprints all over it. She and Matt worked together on their vision for the bar, with Rachelle scooping up the vintage candleholders that sit on every table during an Etsy shopping spree.

“I’ve been collaborating with Matt on this since the beginning and I feel such a sense of pride and such commitment,” she says.

Rachelle is a hospitality veteran, having landed her first waitressing gig as a teenager, and is a selftaught sommelier. “I liked the idea of exploring for myself rather than learning within a box,” she says. Stints working on vineyards in France and Austria, as well as in wine-centric restaurants in Edinburgh and London, were an opportunity to understand what she values in wine, including the minimal-intervention approach that is showcased on her wine list.

“I really respect that approach, because it takes a lot more work. If you are making low-intervention wine you have to care for your wines like they are living things, to check on them every day, because there are no safeguards.”

Rachelle grew up in Western Australia and first came to Tasmania for a holiday nine years ago. “Within a week, I knew I wanted to move here permanently,” she says. “I always wanted to live in a smaller city than Perth. I never got that sense of community that I felt here instantly.”

Along with the connection to community, Rachelle treasures the city’s easy access to nature. “Being able to drive 15 minutes out of town and feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness, or drive 10 minutes and be at a really lovely beach –that is not something you can do in larger cities.”

A bushwalk remains her favourite way to unwind. “Actually, Matt and I are going for a bushwalk with the team this afternoon,” she says. “I don’t drive, so I often go up to Knocklofty Reserve and do the summit walk. You get really beautiful views up there.”

Photos: Chris Crerar

“I never want people to feel overwhelmed when choosing wine... I’m there to help them.”

How to stay safe this bushfire season

Sadly, bushfires have become a regular part of Tasmanian life. They can devastate our communities and take lives. But by taking the right steps today, you can keep your family and home safe tomorrow.

Know

the Fire Danger Ratings

No rating

Moderate – plan and prepare High – be ready to act Extreme – take action now Catastrophic – leave bushfire risk areas

Check your risk at tasalert.com

Build safe outdoor fires

First, check if there’s a total fire ban.

Clear away any debris, furniture, and dry leaves.

Always have water or a fire extinguisher handy.

Never leave fires unattended.

Don’t extinguish using soil or sand.

Make a plan

Planning your exit is the best way to stay safe. With your family, write down what you’ll take with you, how you’ll leave, and where you’ll go.

Put together an emergency kit

If you had to leave home in a hurry, think about what you’d take with you. Gather things like bottled water, clothes, first aid, blankets, phone chargers, and flashlights.

If you get stuck and need to defend your home, the right equipment could save your life. Make sure you have protective clothing, face masks, buckets, mops, and extinguishers.

Find a full list of items at fire.tas.gov.au

Get out early

If you’re close to a bushfire, getting out is your safest choice. Leave yourself plenty of time to avoid being caught in traffic or smoke.

Prepare your home

Remove any dead or dying trees.

Keep grass, weeds and garden beds under control.

Clear leaves or debris from your roof and gutters.

Make sure you have adequate insurance cover.

Check your bushfire risk before adding decks or extensions

Don’t let your water tanks run dry.

drive

22 / AUTO NEWS 25 / 0–100 REVIEW: FORD RANGER RAPTOR 26 / ROAD TEST: VW ARTEON

/ IN REVERSE: MITSUBISHI PAJERO 34 / CHANGE MAKERS: JAUNT MOTORS

The look of Genesis

Korean luxury car maker Genesis has added two new battery electric models to its local line-up, with the launch of the Electrified G80 sedan and the battery electric GV60 SUV. The luxury EV sedan sits above the previous range-topping 3.5T AWD Luxury Package, featuring a twin-motor AWD powertrain with outputs of 272kW/700Nm – enough to propel it from rest to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. Costing $145,000 (MRLP) and boasting a claimed maximum range of more than 500km, it can charge to 80 percent in just 22 minutes. Meanwhile, the coupe-like GV60 is available in AWD ($103,700) and Performance AWD ($110,700) variants, with the former boasting outputs of 324kW/605Nm and the latter upping the ante to 360kW/700Nm. Both utilise a 77.4kWh battery for a claimed range of 470km and 466km (WLTP) respectively and feature futuristic digital cameras in lieu of side mirrors, plus a distinctive Crystal Sphere shift-bywire gear selector. The sleek exterior showcases flush-fit electric door handles, twin-lamp headlights and a clamshell bonnet; inside, a panoramic infotainment display, flat floor, floating console and slim seats create a generous sense of space.

P For more visit genesis.com/au

auto news.

Turbo boost

Subaru Australia has launched two new turbocharged variants of the Outback AWD wagon, with first deliveries of the model-year 2023 (MY23) versions due before Christmas. Featuring the same fivedoor body style as other Outback models, but differentiated via dual exhaust tips and LED fog lights, the new variants are badged AWD Sport XT and AWD Touring XT and cost $52,190 and $55,190 (MRLP) respectively – $5000 higher than equivalent non-turbo models, but packing a more powerful 2.4-litre direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine that puts out a muscular 183kW/350Nm. That’s 45kW/105Nm more than the nonturbo 2.5-litre variants, although the turbos sip costlier 95 RON fuel at a rate of 9.0L/100km versus 7.3L/100km for the 91 RON nonturbos. The turbo Outbacks also boast a heftier 2400kg braked towing capacity, 400kg more than their stablemates, and shave a claimed 22% off the latter’s unspecified 0-100km/h time.

The latest developments in the car world

Fine food and fast cars return to Longford

The world-famous motor-racing history of Longford will be celebrated at a unique event in early 2023, designed to honour the town as a home of Australian motorsport, while providing insights into future mobility intelligence and other industry initiatives. Taking place on 11 and 12 March, the inaugural Longford Grand Prix Expo aims to build on the legacy of the Australian Grand Prix, Tasman Series and Australian Touring Car Championship races contested here from 1953 to 1968. The events attracted huge crowds to witness the skills of renowned drivers like Sir Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Sir Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Bruce McLaren, Leo Geoghegan and Bob Jane, among others. Chief Executive Officer of DX Industries and event organiser Jeremy Dickson says the goal is to create an internationally recognised event that will become a marquee visitor experience on the Tasmanian events calendar. “The event will feature a fully immersive adventure into motor vehicles and mobility, coupled with a range of educational, family-friendly and first-class hospitality activities,” he says. The event is supported by the Tasmanian Government, Events Tasmania, Northern Midlands Council and the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation.

For more visit longfordgrandprix.com

MORE CAMERAS.

BY THE NUMBERS

Nissan Casting Australia Plant

Nissan Australia is set to launch an innovative industry-first circular economy project in Victoria dubbed ‘Nissan Node’, in which the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) will use recycled Leaf EV batteries to power part of its production facility. Located in outer suburban Melbourne, NCAP is one of Australia’s most successful automotive export facilities, supplying specialised cast aluminium components, including for the battery electric Leaf, to vehicle manufacturing plants around the globe.

2.6MIL

The number of metal castings produced at NCAP each year for export to vehicle assembly plants around the world, for Nissan models including Navara, Leaf, Qashqai, Pathfinder, Note, Serena, Frontier, Rogue, Armada, Patrol and X-Trail.

90,000

The size in square metres of the NCAP facility in south-east Melbourne. 16,000

The number of tow bars that NCAP produces annually for Nissan Australia’s domestic and New Zealand markets. 2500

The capability in tonnes of NCAP’s advanced high-pressure die-casting machines.

100

The percentage of recycled aluminium used in NCAP’s highpressure die-casting process.

1982

The year NCAP was established, a decade before Nissan closed its Australian car-making facility.

15

The tolerance in microns – less than the diameter of a human hair – that NCAP parts are produced to, in order to match precisely with parts made in Japan and elsewhere.

82.5

The estimated amount in millions of Australian dollars of NCAP’s annual export sales.

60

The number of individual components produced at NCAP that are critical to Nissan’s global business, including its growing EV fleet.

30

The number of models made by Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi and Renault that utilise NCAP components.

LESS TOLERANCE.

With more resources, including new mobile speed cameras, if you’re driving even a few kilometres over the speed limit the time for excuses is over.

The Tas Energy Saver Loan Scheme is

HERE!

The Tasmanian Government, in collaboration with Brighte Finance, are bringing you the Energy Saver Loan Scheme. A 0% interest free loan of up to $10,000 is available on a range of energy efficient products, including Solar, Battery Storage and Heat Pump Hot Water. Call us at I Want Energy today to arrange a free consultation, and leave it to the experts.

The Solar Experts

The Solar Experts

FORD RANGER RAPTOR BIRD OF PREY

Ford’s high-riding, hard-charging race-truck-for-the-road adopts V6 power to match bark with bite.

Story Harry Weller

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, A CAR-COMPANY

product planner gets it so right that we sit back and wonder, ‘Why didn’t anyone think of that before?’ That was very much the case with the first-generation Ford Ranger Raptor, a modified dual-cab 4x4 ute released in 2018 that channelled the spirit of the USA’s famous Baja desert racing series with its high-riding, wide-track stance and awesome off-road capability, courtesy of its specialised suspension. Already madly in love with the dual-cab ute as our preferred tool of work and play, Aussies’ enthusiasm for the format went next level with the Raptor, its customised looks backed by seriously enhanced underpinnings. But if there was one area where the original Raptor underwhelmed, it was in the horsepower department, thanks to its 2.0-litre fourcylinder biturbo diesel. Any wonder then that when it came time to release the new version, based on the Australian designed and engineered T6 platform, engineers chose to plonk a more muscular 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol V6 beneath the bonnet. The upgrade, along with a raft of other changes, transforms the new Raptor into an off-road beast. The new engine is good for 292kW/583Nm and drives through a

10-speed automatic with the option to drive the rear wheels only, or all four corners via a selectable drive-mode dial. In total, drivers have the choice of seven drive modes for different conditions, encompassing Normal, Sport, Slippery, Rock, Mud and Ruts, Sand and Baja, which is the most aggressive shift pattern. In addition, electronically controlled active exhaust valves deliver four unique exhaust profiles, from Quiet Mode through to the deep, guttural growl of Baja Mode. But while much of the focus on this Raptor will rightly be on its new powertrain, it’s the Fox 2.5-inch live-valve shock absorbers that are its real secret sauce. Using conventional coil overs up front, but external reservoirs at the rear, the adaptive dampers rely on sensors that monitor driver and vehicle inputs 500 times a second to adjust damping force in real time to suit the terrain, giving the Raptor incredible cross-country capability. For a big truck – weighing almost 2.5-tonnes – the Raptor feels remarkably light on its feet, with a faster steering ratio than its predecessor, while the long travel suspension – comprising lightweight aluminium upper and lower front control arms and revised Watt’s link coil-spring rear suspension – provides an incredible ability to absorb bumps at speed. Other off-road inspired additions include front and rear locking differentials, a 2.3mmthick high-strength steel front bash plate, 33inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tyres and unique mounts and reinforcements to ensure this Next-Gen Ranger Raptor can handle the most punishing off-road conditions.

THE SPECS

RETAIL PRICE • $85,490 (MRLP) BODY STYLE • Dual-cab utility SEATING • 5

FUEL CONSUMPTION • (Combined): 11.5L/100km (262g/km CO2)

ANCAP SAFETY RATING • Not Rated ENGINE • 3.0-litre V6 Twin Turbo EcoBoost (292kW/583Nm)

TRANSMISSION • 10-speed automatic

DRIVE TYPE • Permanent fourwheel-drive system, electronically controlled two-speed transfer case, front and rear locking differentials 0–100KM/H: 6.0 seconds (estimated)

For more visit ford.com.au

ROAD

Taking a quick break to the Tasman Peninsula is a journey worth savouring in the VW Arteon, says Andrew Bain.

Words Andrew Bain Photos Stu Gibson

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE

A quick getaway from Hobart in the VW Arteon sedan; McHenry’s elevated guest accommodation; the route is filled with native flora and fauna, a Dunalley pitstop; a detour to the Coal Mines Historic Site.

The sedan is dead, long live the sedan. In a motoring era saturated with SUVs, which now account for around 50 percent of car sales in Australia, there’s almost a nostalgia to finding myself cruising out of Hobart in a new sedan, especially one as sleek and slick as the Volkswagen Arteon.

Modelled on its sibling Passat, but sitting lower and more elegant, there’s one surprising thing about this Arteon that sets it up as a perfect touring vehicle: space. Despite the sporty appearance, the car’s boot is cavernous, with 563 litres of luggage space. It’s more than enough for almost any road trip, especially a quick break like the one I’m making to the Tasman Peninsula.

As Hobart’s early-morning commuter crush heads one way across the Tasman Bridge, I’m disappearing the other way. On the road, the first impression of the Arteon is that it’s conveyorbelt smooth as I weave through the traffic, the

blind-spot warning lights on its side mirrors flickering like a heartbeat.

Like all Tasman Peninsula drives, the day truly feels like it begins in Dunalley and the familiar metallic whirr as I cross the bridge over the Denison Canal, Australia’s only purpose-built sea canal.

The haul to Port Arthur – the Tasman Peninsula’s star feature – was a quick trip to hell for 19th-century convicts, but today it’s a journey worth savouring. I shun the direct route, turning instead at Taranna onto the road less travelled: the B37 through Koonya and Premaydena to Nubeena.

Out here, you wouldn’t know you’re on the road to one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist sites, with traffic thinning to a trickle and the Arteon taking the ever-present road bends like a slalom racer. Green hills fall into blue seas and, at the first hint of a rain shower, the VW’s rainsensor windscreen wipers flicker into action. They’re just one feature among the Arteon’s suitable suite of modern wizardry, from Park

Assist – automatically steering the car into parking spaces – to a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, to a massage setting in the driver’s seat.

Time is no enemy this day, and I turn off the road to detour out to the Coal Mines Historic Site and Lime Bay. A short walking trail loops through the Coal Mines, Port Arthur’s companion convict site and Tasmania’s first mine, once housing the so-called worst of the worst convicts. The ruined cells, with their windows and chimneys still etched into tumbledown walls, now resemble a partly completed jigsaw puzzle.

The road turns to gravel beside the Coal Mines as I continue the couple of kilometres to the coast at Lime Bay, and the vehicle handles the change of surface easily, even if for an extra few grand you can upgrade to the Arteon R-Line, which adds all-wheel drive to the package.

On the corrugated road, the VW’s suspension continues to cushion the ride as I turn back past the Coal Mines, returning to the bitumen, where the pace picks back up. Rising over the Tasman Peninsula’s spine of hills, I’m treated to my first views of the Southern Ocean. Surfers often use this rise to take a measure on the waves, but this day the sea is rolled out flat and calm.

Soon I’m down by these waters, passing through Nubeena and heading out to White Beach and lunch at the ever-friendly Pickers Pantry. Set beside packing sheds with tables slotted between rows of pear trees, the cafe merges into an orchard. The clouds have parted and the farm dog snoozes in the sun beside my table. In the bay, gulls speckle the Brother

Photos: Stu Gibson

and

“Like all Tasman Peninsula drives, the day truly feels like it all begins in Dunalley ... as I cross the bridge over the Denison Canal.”

Sister Islands, and the sun pours down, turning White Beach all shades of colour.

From White Beach, it’s back over the hills to my day’s finish in Port Arthur. I settle briefly again into the Arteon’s Nappa leather seats, which are supremely comfortable (though not so comfortable that the car’s driver-fatiguedetection system will be put to the test).

It’s a final chance to open the throttle for the pull up the slopes of Mount Arthur to McHenry Distillery. In that contemporary Tasmanian way, distilleries have been about as frequent as towns on this drive – Dunalley Bay Distillery, Impression Bay Distillery and now McHenry in just 55km since leaving Dunalley – with McHenry providing a suitable full stop to the day.

From the cellar door, I grab a bottle of whiskey for an evening on the peninsula, and continue up the slopes on a steep gravel road – a final bit of grunt work for the Arteon, climbing high above the farm-like distillery to McHenry’s elevated guest accommodation, and vast views over the peninsula to distant kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Bruny Island and the Southern Ranges.

Whiskey, views, sedan. I see nothing here that’s out of fashion.

Book a test drive of the VW Arteon at JMC Hobart, 152-170 Campbell Street, at jmc.com.au/hobart

Photos: Stu Gibson

CLOCKWISE

QUALITY TIME

Young Tasmanians are significantly overrepresented in deaths and serious injuries on our roads. In fact, road crashes are the second leading cause of death for young Tasmanians aged between 17 and 25, and the risk of being involved in a crash is highest during the first six months of solo driving on a P1 licence.

In December 2020, the Tasmanian Government introduced a package of changes to the driver graduated licensing system (GLS). This brought Tasmania into alignment with the ‘enhanced’ model GLS under the national GLS policy framework and will help to make young drivers as safe as possible on our roads.

Learners are now required to complete 80 hours of supervised driving (including 15 hours at night). A complete ban on interacting with mobile phones was introduced, as well as peer passenger restrictions for P1 drivers to reduce distraction. Novice drivers are automatically rewarded for safe driving with a free three-year full licence if they complete both provisional licensing

stages without committing an offence.

Two years after implementation of the changes to the GLS, many Tasmanians are progressing through the new licensing pathway. A new cohort of learners are now on the road developing their safe driving skills.

That’s why the Road Safety Advisory Council is continuing its successful ‘Quality Time’ campaign. The campaign was launched to complement the changes to the GLS introduced in 2020, and to highlight the importance of getting as much supervised driving practice as possible in a variety of conditions.

We know that the more practice a young driver has, the safer they will be when they start driving by themselves. There is no substitute for on-road experience. That message is just as relevant today as it was in 2020.

The campaign features challenging, funny and relatable moments shared between learner and supervisory drivers during the learning

The Road

journey.

recommends that learners get between 80 and 120 hours of supervised driving experience. It’s also important for learners to practise driving in different road environments and a variety of traffic and weather conditions to prepare them for solo driving on Tasmanian roads. This includes driving on suburban roads, busy highways, and unsealed gravel roads. It also means driving at different speeds, at different times of the day, and in wet weather conditions.

The message is clear: more practice, in more conditions, more often.

Look out for the ad on TV and social media or visit www.rsac.tas.gov.au.

to drive

Safety Advisory Council

Learner drivers need more on-road, supervised driving practice in a variety of traffic and weather conditions

THE JAPANESE JEEP

Mitsubishi Pajero ENGINE

MODEL

CLAIM TO FAME

Over 3.3 million global sales

Scotsman Andrew Cowan drove one to the first of what became many class wins in the punishing 1983 Paris-Dakar rally, and thousands of Aussies have ferried the kids to school in Mitsubishi’s versatile Pajero 4x4, which ended production last year just shy of its 40th birthday.

Story Harry Weller

Very quietly and without much fanfare, Mitsubishi retired its Pajero off-roader during 2021, ending a 39-year run that saw more than 3.3 million sold globally, including an estimated 212,000 here. Mitsubishi announced the last Australian run of 800 Final Edition Pajeros in May 2021, with the few remaining units still trickling out of dealerships at the time of writing. When the final Pajero

is sold, it will bring down the curtain on an Australian presence that dates to October 1982, the same year the rugged 4x4 went on sale in Japan.

The first Pajeros arrived here in twodoor short-wheelbase form, but in later years it was better known as a roomy and reliable five-door wagon alternative to Toyota’s best-selling LandCruiser Prado. By 2021, the Pajero had settled comfortably into middle age, doing duties as a school-run sevenseater, weekend warrior and popular tow-tug, thanks to its gutsy 3.2-litre turbo-diesel powerplant. But between 1983 and 2007, it gained renown for

its dominance of the gruelling ParisDakar Rally, clocking up a record 12 class wins and 150 stage wins. Over the course of four model generations, the Pajero introduced such innovations to the large 4x4 off-road segment as monocoque construction, full-time 4x4 and independent rear suspension, at a time when separate chassis, parttime 4x4 and live axles were the norm.

In the end, it was the market’s shift towards softer, crossover-style SUVs – plus the high costs to re-engineer an entirely new platform for the ageing model – that prompted Mitsubishi to call time on its legendary off-roader. Despite that decision, the name lives on with the Triton-ute based Pajero Sport, although the two models are related by name only.

INSET IMAGE

In 1988, the Nikon Mitsubishi Pajero took second place overall in the 10th Paris-Dakar Rally.

3.2L diesel turbo 4 engine

Photos: Alamy

revival Green

Jaunt Motors is breathing new life into classic four-wheeldrives – bringing sustainable technology to adventure travel, writes Dylan Campbell.

Marteen Burger is the co-founder of Jaunt Motors, a Melbournebased start-up that takes Series Land Rovers and newer Defenders and swaps their dirty diesel engines with Tesla batteries and electric motors. Launched in 2018, Jaunt means ‘a short excursion or journey made for pleasure’ and captures the brand’s vision of sustainable classic motoring and adventuring.

How did Jaunt come to be?

My business partner Dave [Budge] and I worked together on and off for 12 years in the advertising industry. I am an executive producer and he's a director, and we worked in digital content production. We were at a point in our careers where both of us wanted to start a business. I wanted to get into new and emerging video technology, but I also really love a challenge. And when he came to the

Photos: Supplied by Jaunt Motors

TOP TO BOTTOM

Jaunt Motors co-founder Marteen Burger; Offroading in a converted 1973 Land Rover Series III; Jaunt’s conversions have garnered interest in Australia and overseas.

party with this story about converting old cars – and I am a bit of a car fan, thanks to my dad – I just thought, yeah, that sounds like a lot more fun. Let's do the challenging thing. We have been in 'start-up mode' for about three years ... but we're there now, able to start growing the team and pushing cars out in the way that we thought we would've about two years ago.

Why did you choose to focus on Land Rovers?

We chose the Land Rover because Australia is so dry and arid that a lot of these Land Rover aluminium panels have no rust. The chassis are in good nick, and we've got a supply of thousands of these cars. They're very popular. And people who love Land Rovers are rustedon fans who want to see them have a life beyond 2022.

Why convert them to electric? Why not just restore them?

We like to think we're giving them another 50 years of life. Dave loves to tell people that he once went camping and had this epiphany where he felt really bad about driving his diesel Defender through the bush and creating all of these horrible fossil fuel emissions. Why wouldn't he just convert the thing he loves to

electric? We want to show Australia it's a good thing to move to an electric vehicle and it's just as fun and adventurous as your diesel fourwheel-drive.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

The cost is 50 percent restoration, and 50 percent roughly the conversion. We offer an extremely premium restoration – it's groundup, every nut and bolt is changed. So a short wheelbase Series might start at $250,000. And depending on the customisations you make and the battery capacity, the cost goes up from there. With a later model Defender, there's no restoration required – it's just a pure conversion. That's around $150,000. As of 2023, we're quoting a six month maximum build time.

What’s it like to drive a Jaunt?

It's a hundred times better than the original. Steering an old vintage classic like a Series Land Rover is almost impossible; there can be 80 degrees of play in the steering alone. And changing gears can be really difficult. It's just a real stress to drive. But once you've converted it, added power steering and disc brakes, it's a quieter car, you don't have to wear earmuffs [laughs]. It's a lot more pleasurable and a completely different experience.

What does a normal day look like for you?

It looks a lot like a very typical business. I have not had a day that hasn't thrown me a challenge. My skill sets were really great to be able to run a start-up. However, I have had to learn so much more about the legal side of running a manufacturing business and brush up on my commercial finance skills. So there are some areas where I've just had an amazing learning curve, and it's been fun. A lot of people who start a business, they either say it's super-duper fun or super-duper challenging and tiring. I've gone through the full parabola of starting with excitement, up to completely challenging, tiring, run into the ground, and I'm now back onto the fun journey of, oh my gosh, where are we going next? This is so exciting. We can't fail. It's really picking up. So that's where I am at the moment. Ask me again in two months.

As Journeys closed for press, Jaunt Motors had been acquired by UK-based Fellten Electrified Systems and will now be known as Fellten.

Seaside stay

Unwind, relax and recharge at Seaview in Glebe. This traditional Federation home has been sympathetically restored by its current owners and includes a Japanese-inspired extension. The property accommodates up to six guests and with close proximity to Hobart it’s perfect for your next summer stay. P For more, visit seaviewglebe.com.au

Photo: Marnie Hawson

travel news.

3 TO TRY must-visit bakeries

PIGEON WHOLE BAKERS

Coffee, freshly baked bread, sandwiches you’ll never be able to recreate at home – this Hobart bakery has it all. Plus, it has plenty of take-home options to satisfy all-day carb cravings.

DACI & DACI BAKERS

For those with a sweet tooth, the cabinet of freshly baked pastries and desserts at this Hobart bakery never disappoints. Pop in for a coffee or sweet treat, or better yet, select a few desserts to take home and share (or not).

MANUBREAD

It’s the aroma of freshly baked bread that engulfs you as soon as you step inside this Launceston gem that will have you coming back for more. We suggest visiting early to secure your favourite baked goodies.

Inspiration for exploring our state

A NEW HOTEL FOR DEVONPORT

The doors have officially opened at Novotel Devonport. The Lyons Architecture-designed hotel was conceptualised to act as an iconic horizontal land bridge, visually connecting the Mersey River to the city of Devonport. The hotel seemingly floats above its parkland setting as a striking elevated structure propped on sculptural columns. The Spirit of Tasmania is right next door, too, making it a perfect pitstop for Bass Strait travellers.

HELLO GEELONG

Bass Strait transport has been given a lift: the Spirit of Tasmania has a new home in Geelong. Passengers and vehicles can now ferry between Devonport and Geelong Port. The $135 million purpose-built passenger and freight terminal is built for growth, too; the innovative three-level access ramp will service both Spirit of Tasmania’s existing ships and two larger vessels due to arrive in 2024.

Photos: Jesse Hunniford (Pigeon Whole Bakers), Remi Chauvin @monsieurremi (Templo)

Templo

Celebrate the festive season with dinner at Hobart favourite Templo. This neighbourhood restaurant champions the best produce in the area with its seasonal chef’s menu that changes weekly – which is great for repeat visits, as you’re guaranteed to taste something new every time.

Drop in to sheep farm Grandvewe and learn how to churn your own butter. In this hands-on experience, you’ll be guided through the process of milking ‘Shirl the sheep’ and then churning cream into butter, before washing and processing it, ready to take home. Though when butter tastes this good, we don’t expect it to last long.

5 tow-tally awesome caravan

TRIPS IN TASSIE

Tasmania is blessed with a remarkable concentration of natural wonders accessible by caravan, many within easy reach of Hobart and Launceston. Here, caravanning expert and author Catherine Best rounds up five of the best caravanning destinations.

CLOSWISE FROM TOP RIGHT Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park; Van Diemen’s Apartment in Stanley; Bicheno is a 40-minute drive from Freycinet, Tatlows Beach near Stanley.

1. Freycinet

For the water babies

The jewel of Tasmania’s east coast, Freycinet National Park is a striking montage of ocean-nibbled sandy coves and blushing granite peaks. Caravanners can stay at the campground inside the national park, but sites are small so big vans should opt for the caravan park at nearby Coles Bay.

Wineglass Bay is the park’s main draw, and can be accessed by boat or on foot, together with various other secluded peaks and beaches. For snorkelling, head to Sleepy Bay or Honeymoon Bay, ride the gentle waves at Muirs Beach, or opt for a paddle (SUP or kayak) at sheltered Richardsons Beach, framed by the dramatic Hazards Mountains.

Stay at BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet, in Coles Bay

For more info: big4.com.au

2. Stanley

For the history buffs

There’s something about Stanley. The tiny fishing village couldn’t get more photogenic – pinched between the sea and a tabletop mountain, known as the Nut, on an isthmus in north-west Tasmania. Beneath the Nut, a garland of heritage cottages gives the impression a horse-drawn carriage might come clattering past.

The main sights in Stanley, 215km west of Launceston, revolve around the Nut, a volcanic plug you can climb or zip up on the chairlift. North of the Nut, the 1826 Highfield Historic Site is a must visit. The homestead, formerly the

headquarters of the Van Diemen’s Land Company, provides a fascinating insight into Tasmania’s early wool traders, as well as a great vantage point of the Nut.

More history can be unravelled in the cottages open to the public along Church St, including Joe Lyons Cottage, birthplace of the only prime minister born in Tasmania.

Don’t miss seeing the penguins come ashore at sunset on Godfreys Beach.

Stay at Stanley Cabin & Tourist Park on the waterfront at Tatlows Beach. For more info: stanleycabinpark.com.au

Photos: Tourism Tasmania and Robert King Visuals; Tourism Tasmania and Kathryn Leahy (Wineglass Bay), Tourism Tasmania and Adrian Cook (The Nut), Van Diemen’s Apartment

Wineglass Bay is the park’s main draw, and can be accessed by boat or on foot.

3. Bruny Island

For an all-in getaway

How marvellous it is that an island off an island is accessible by caravan, thanks to the SeaLink ferry, departing from Kettering, 32km south of Hobart. Bruny – technically two islands joined by a slender isthmus – is ringed by pearly white beaches, secluded coves and sea cliffs that are among the tallest in Australia. It’s also a gastronomy hotspot, home to boutique producers of craft beer, cold-climate wines and spirits, artisan cheese, chocolate, oysters and berries.

Truganini Lookout at The Neck, where the north and south islands meet, provides wonderful vistas across the island and is frequented by little penguins. Other highlights include the Quarantine Station, Cape Bruny Lighthouse (1838) and cruising past 272m-high cliffs to a seal colony at the southernmost tip of the island with Bruny Island Cruises.

Stay at Captain Cook Holiday Park, opposite the water, centrally located at Adventure Bay. For more info: captaincookpark.com

4. Huon Valley

For the foodie and nature fans

The lush rolling pastures of the Huon Valley are a foodie and nature enthusiast’s paradise, less than an hour from the centre of Hobart. You can comfortably eat your way around the wineries, farm-gates and restaurants, then burn off the extra calories on a walk through the wilderness.

Huonville is an excellent springboard for exploring the region’s abundant spoils, starting with Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in Grove, Glen Huon Dairy and the Port Cygnet Cannery. Linger in Franklin, on the banks of the Huon River, visiting the Wooden Boat Centre and Frank’s Ciderhouse and Cafe for a window into the region’s boatbuilding and applegrowing traditions.

For natural attractions, visit Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs, the treetops walk at Tahune Adventures, and the former whaling settlement of Cockle Creek on Australia’s southernmost road, dubbed “the end of the world”.

Stay at Huon Valley Caravan Park on a working farm backing onto Mountain River. See here: huonvalleycaravanpark.com.au

Caravanning

checklist

1 Check your weights with a mobile service like Weigh Forward to ensure your car, caravan and combined rig are safe and legal.

2 Ensure cupboards and windows are locked, TV antenna is down, stabilisers are up and awning secured.

3 Check plug connections, break-away cable and caravan lights.

4 Plan your route, ensuring it’s suitable for long, heavy vehicles.

5 Check tyre pressures on your car and caravan.

6 Ensure you have sufficient gas, water and battery charge, especially if camping off-grid.

5. Cradle Mountain

For the hiking enthusiast

One of Australia’s most celebrated alpine regions, Cradle-Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is a caravan-friendly wilderness icon. Two million years of glacial erosion and deposition have sculpted a landscape of rugged alpine peaks, lakes, moraines, windswept moors and ancient rainforests. The dolerite spires of Cradle Mountain, towering over Dove Lake, form one of Australia’s most recognisable natural skylines. To see them, you’ll need to enter the park from the northern end, about 140km west of Launceston.

The park has various hikes catering for all abilities – from the short creek-side Enchanted Walk, through forests of myrtle and pencil pine, to the strenuous Cradle Summit. Dove Lake Circuit is a spectacularly scenic trail and mostly flat.

Stay at Cradle Mountain Holiday & Caravan Park on the fringe of the national park. For more info: discoveryholidayparks.com.au

TOP

Cape Bruny Lighthouse; the caravan-friendly alpine region of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair; wombat sightings in Cradle Mountain; the foodie and nature enthusiast’s paradise of the Huon Valley.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett (Cape Bruny Lighthouse), Tourism Australia (Glen Huon Dairy Co.), Catherine Best, Mauricio E. Mozo (Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair)

CLOCKWISE FROM

LEFT

The beautiful streetscape, convict past and some quirky culinary claims are enough to tempt drivers off the highway into the Midlands’ most beautiful town.

EAT

Ross has few eateries, but such is its reputation for baked goods that it has two bakeries, and both are headline acts. Ross Village Bakery boasts of the ‘world’s best vanilla slice’ (and who’s to quibble when they’re this good), while Bakery 31 is invariably mentioned in conversations about the state’s best scallop pies. Why not have both?

SHOP

The clue is in the name at the Tasmanian Wool Centre, which is head-to-toe – hats to ugg boots –in woollen products. Out back is a museum telling the story of wool in Tasmania and Ross’ own history. Almost a museum piece in itself is Ross Collectables, an eclectic antique store spilling into an old mechanic’s garage.

SEE

Ross Bridge is one of Australia’s oldest bridges (1836), and such is the beauty of its design and sandstone carvings that its convict creators were subsequently granted pardons. Ross Female Factory was built to house convicts working on the bridge, but in 1847 was transformed into a female prison. Little remains beyond the foundations of its buildings, but its story is definitively told inside the lone cottage on site.

DRINK

Once marked by a road sign pointing to ‘Temptation’, the Ross Hotel remains a tempting stop. The front bar’s sandstone walls exude history, but the large beer garden out back is the place to be. Across the street, dinky little Dinki pours only filtered coffees, bringing an inner-city edge to time-warped Ross.

STAY

Get into the historic spirit at longrunning Colonial Cottages of Ross, featuring three colonial-era stays around town. Captain Samuel’s Cottage and Cupid’s Nest, conjoined 1830 sandstone cottages at the heart of the main street, are the pick.

Photos: Alastair Bett, Tourism Tasmania

It’s all in the

The Freycinet Experience Walk was a pioneer in low-impact environmental tourism when it launched 30 years ago. Chris Crerar dons his hiking boots to experience the special anniversary walk.

It was a vastly different Tasmania three decades ago in 1992 when Joan Masterman and Ken Latona began welcoming guests on their newly established Freycinet Experience Walk; wounds were still fresh from the battle for the Franklin River, the economy was failing and tourism was still a bit of a sideshow. The duo – who had created the pioneering Cradle Mountain Huts Walk five years earlier in 1987 –took a risk by establishing a luxury guided walk on the east coast. Its impact on ecotourism would be significant, yet they would leave only footprints.

Speeding down the coast, passing rugged granite mountains, colonies of seals and soaring sea eagles, a boat trip to remote Schouten Island is a fitting way to begin three days of luxury wilderness adventuring while celebrating the Freycinet Experience Walk’s 30th anniversary.

TOP TO BOTTOM Tasmania’s east coast is celebrated for its sweeping coastal scenery and crystal waters; exploring Freycinet’s rugged coastline.

We step off the boat onto a perfectly isolated beach and hike through wildflower-decorated coastal forest to a lookout halfway up Bear Hill. The view is filled with pink granite peaks surrounded by an aquamarine Tasman Sea. It’s a remarkable landscape free of human development.

A brisk swim in the almost tropical-looking waters means I have a chilly boat trip back, during which I’m imagining the open fire at the Friendly Beaches Lodge. After a short bus ride, we’re strolling along a squeaky white-sand beach towards our accommodation. Our guide Billy challenges us to spot it in the bush; none of us can. She guides us through a small opening in the shrubbery and, after a short walk, the lodge reveals itself.

We’re greeted by our hosts, including Joan’s daughter-in-law, Holly Masterman, and grandson Isaac. A condition of the lodge’s approval back in the early ‘90s, Isaac tells us, was that it couldn’t be visible from the coast. So successful was the design in meeting this condition that it was nicknamed the ‘Invisible Lodge’. With its dark-timber exterior and slope-hugging form, it’s little wonder that the Friendly Beaches Lodge remains a highly regarded example of sensitive ecotourism architecture.

Photos: Chris Crerar

Over Tasmanian cheeses and wine, we learn about the personal values Joan embedded into the Freycinet Experience Walk, often referred to as ‘Joan’s passion project’. Respecting and connecting with the environment and local community are longstanding values.

Joan and Ken ran the program together until the late ‘90s, when they chose to pursue different projects. The Mastermans have operated it independently ever since.

“When you start something as unique as the Freycinet Experience along those guidelines, it’s very easy just to keep track,” Isaac says, also pointing to the sustainability of the experience.

“We’re completely off-grid. Our water is rainwater, our electricity is solar and all waste is managed and removed off-site.”

I sleep soundly in my timber-lined room, waking early to a spectacular day. Wandering around the still-empty lodge, I notice personal touches that have created a home-like ambience. Found objects, collected artworks and an extensive Tasmanianfocused library come together to create a genuinely welcoming space.

A shorter 30th anniversary itinerary and boggy trails caused by a wet winter mean we’re not following the typical second-day schedule. Rather than traversing the peninsula’s southern reaches, we’ll be hiking from near Cape Tourville back to the lodge along Freycinet’s east coast.

Passing a Palawa cultural living site at the start of our hike sparks a conversation about life here prior to European arrival, and the devastation of frontier conflict and subsequent government policies. Our guide, Kari, tells us that this walk follows a Palawa trail, reminding us this is Aboriginal land, with thousands of years of embodied history.

The views along the coast through open woodland grow as we climb the escarpment and skirt clifftops beneath soaring sea eagles.

TOP TO BOTTOM

At Friendly Beaches Lodge, guests enjoy local produce while surrounded by nature; the home-like setting encourages you to disconnect and relax.

... Friendly Beaches Lodge remains a highly regarded example of sensitive ecotourism architecture

Photos: Chris Crerar

Billy and Kari enrich our experience with plant and animal facts, but also make time for quiet contemplation.

We’re welcomed back to the lodge with plump, creamy local oysters. The focus on relationships with smaller local food and wine suppliers is at the heart of the experience’s ethos and epitomised by the fact that the Freycinet Marine Farm has been supplying its oysters for three decades. These nurtured relationships flow through to the warmth of hospitality we all enjoy at the lodge. It feels like we’ve become part of an extended family. Even the possums on our roof seem to try their best not to wake us. Just as well, too, as we’ve been invited to enjoy sunrise coffee on the beach.

TOP TO BOTTOM

Knowledgeable guides ensure hikers enjoy their adventure; the Freycinet Experience Walk offers many opportunities to marvel at Tasmania’s stunning flora and fauna.

Ready for the Freycinet Experience Walk?

Here are some top tips to help you prepare:

1 You won’t need camping gear, but you’ll need a good pair of hiking boots, a degree of walking fitness and a healthy attitude to uneven ground.

2 Day two is a choice between a 16km hike traversing the 579m Mt Graham, or a more leisurely 14km hike along coastal heathlands and remote beaches. Either way, you’ll end up at the Friendly Beaches Lodge, as you do for three nights, enjoying a candlelit dinner of beautifully prepared local produce and matched local wine.

3 Pack your bathers. The sea temperature may be frigid, especially early in the season, but the stunning beaches and crystal-clear aqua waters may lure you in.

Enjoying a freshly brewed coffee on an untouched stretch of beach as the sun rises over the ocean must be one of life’s unforgettable pleasures. I can’t help but cap it off with a lifeaffirming plunge in the surf.

We’re guided on a final morning walk around the property. Purchasing these 40ha of bushland enabled the establishment of the Freycinet Experience Walk 30 years ago, and the ongoing care of it is central to everything the experience stands for.

We arrive back to an incredible long-table brunch on the deck. It’s more like a culinary hug than a meal. None of us wants to leave, but a walk along the beach to the bus enables a long goodbye, digestion and contemplation of what a truly sustainable ecotourism experience can be.

For more detailed information about the Freycinet Experience Walk, head to freycinet.com.au

Photos: Chris Crerar

Get back to nature

Book a stay at one of these affordable accommodation options to experience the best of Tasmania.

FREE RV PARKING AT TALL TIMBERS

Tall Timbers Tasmania is pleased to welcome guests with RVs to the property with free RV parking from October to May each year. Enjoy the expansive grounds and the facilities of the venue while visiting. Maximum stay is 72 hours in any 14 day consecutive period. talltimbershotel.com.au or call 1800 628 476

GLAMPING AMONG THE VINES

Domescapes in the Vines, in the heart of the Tamar Valley, is an immersive experience, and a must for wine lovers looking for an unforgettable escape. Complete with ensuite, the eclectic geodesic domes offer the ultimate in comfort in both private and expansive surroundings. domescapes.com.au or call 0492 896 228

CAMPSITES IN A WILDERNESS SETTING

River’s Edge Wilderness Camping offers camping sites close to a World Heritage Area on the banks of the Russell River at Lonnavale, in southern Tasmania. You’ll be enchanted by the serenity of the location, that's still easily accessible to everything your heart could desire. riversedgecamping.com.au or call (03) 6266 0007

GET BACK TO NATURE + GLAMPING

Perfectly positioned between Bicheno and St Helens, Little Beach Co. glamping is the ideal location for you to come up for air in its pristine environment framed by water on one side and mountains on the other. Immerse yourself in our upmarket glamping experience. littlebeachco.com.au or call 0418 157 222

WINGTONS GLAMPING – TAMAR VALLEY

Luxury safari style glamping on the shores of the Tamar River. Think golden safari tests, private bathrooms and the finest cotton linen. Mention RACT when booking a two-night stay and receive a free one-hour session in our waterfront sauna and plunge pool! wingtons.com or call 0431 820 729

TIPEE TIME IN THE HUON VALLEY

Imagine soaking up the serenity of this cosy tipee, nestled within a private nature reserve in the Huon Valley, Huon Bush Retreats contains fully equipped eco cabins, tipees and camping. New owners Pamela and Michael look forward to hosting your stay. huonbushretreats.com or call (03) 6264 2233

Image: @jadekristel

Education is the key to road safety

Our Community & Advocacy team is back on the road, travelling to both city and rural locations across Tasmania with free road safety education programs for child care centres, schools, teams and clubs. Our age-appropriate programs are fun and interactive and aimed at promoting road safety by delving into topics such as bike safety, hazard perception and commonly misunderstood road rules.

The Distracted Driving program, for example, sees learner drivers navigate a driving course wearing vision-impairment goggles and attempting to send a text message, while having passengers. The course is supervised by an RACT driver trainer and gives students a taste of reality behind the wheel, while showcasing the dangers of texting and driving. P To book a session, please visit ract.com.au/community/community-education

the latest.

Slow down for our wildlife

TASMANIAN ROAD USERS

are often confronted with the fatal results of wildlife collisions. Not only is this traumatic for the driver, it can also be costly. We estimate that in 2023, vehicle damage caused by wildlife-vehicle interactions will cost Tasmanians $9.5 million through their insurance coverage. But this cost is only a small part of a more complex issue.

On average 32 animals are killed on Tasmanian roads every hour, and those are just the animals that are reported. Research indicates an additional 25 animals die every hour as a result of trauma or injuries resulting from a collision.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary deals with 14,000 phone calls a year from people who call for assistance following a wildlife collision.

There simply aren’t enough carers to cater for the growing number of animals in need, and the emotional and financial pressure can

Roadkill in Tasmania threatens conservation and animal welfare, and affects everyone including councils, locals, tourists and wildlife carers. Reducing roadkill on our roads starts with being aware and slowing down, particularly around dusk and dawn when our wildlife is most active.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision and it’s safe to do so, please consider stopping to check on the welfare of the animal.

For injured or orphaned wildlife, you can call Bonorong on 0447 264 625

CAR MEDIC

OIL LEVELS

A correct oil level will keep your engine happy for a lot longer.

Here’s how to correctly check your oil level: With your car turned off, and on a flat surface, remove the dip stick, wipe the shaft of oil and re-dip it. The level should be in line with the ‘full’ mark.

If the oil is at the ‘low’ level mark, you should need between 0.5 and 1 litre to correct the level. Oil should only be added at 500ml increments and rechecked after a few minutes. It’s important to make sure you don’t over-fill your oil level.

Reducing roadkill on Tasmanian roads starts with lowering driving speeds, particularly at dawn and dusk

Photos: Alamy, IStock

We’re turning 100!

As we approach our 100th year in 2023, we want to celebrate with Tasmanians to say thanks for your unwavering support. We’ll have many exciting events to mark our history and we’ve created a coffee-table book which is available for pre-order now.

We’ve always strived to innovate and be ahead of the curve, looking forward so we can continue to improve and provide the best support for Tasmanians as possible.

2023 will also mark the change of our beloved Journeys magazine which will now be released quarterly, with many stories next year featuring moments from our history. Maybe you’ll have a connection to us you didn’t know you had.

Keep an eye on all communications from us to stay up to date with how you can be a part of our celebration as we seek to bring on the next 100 years in style.

Want to register your interest in the RACT coffee-table history book? Head to ract.com.au/about-us/journey-of-a-century

Staying prepared and alert through bushfire season

Knowing the bushfire risk and being prepared is a top priority for our Marketing Coordinator, Henry James, and his wife, Jill.

Occupying a hobby farm just inland from Marion Bay, they know that in the event of an emergency, prior planning is key.

“You won’t have the luxury of time if you’re required to evacuate. We each have a ‘go bag’ in our wardrobe containing a day’s clothes, some muesli bars and any medications”, he says.

“We have an important documents briefcase, which includes printouts of our insurance and registrations, passports, a small amount of cash, a phone charger, and some flash drives with backups of our photos.”

Being pet owners, they also store their cat carrier in their shed for easy access, along with some pet food, a spare collar and lead for their dog, a large bottle of water, bowls, some towels and a battery radio.

“Having all this prepared gives us confidence in knowing we could evacuate quickly”

Living in the greater Dunalley region, they still regularly see the impact that bushfire had on this community and its people.

“Sadly, the home of our nearest neighbour, and many of the other homes and businesses within the community were affected. Having endured what they have, the people within this region, people I now call friends, are so resilient. On the back of what would have been such a devastating period, there’s now an incredible sense of community.”

Don’t let La Niña catch you underprepared this bushfire season. Follow all the correct protocols to be ready.

Since starting as an automobile club in 1923, our purpose has remained the same: to improve the lives of Tasmanians and our members, through our advocacy, services and products.

An RACT patrol helping a stranded motorist

Changing gears

The power of listening A

To

lmost every day our community and advocacy team is contacted by members on subjects as diverse as fuel prices, electric vehicles, the state of our roads and road safety. There are many sage suggestions that have been incorporated into what we do.

Our community road safety programs are also great listening posts to monitor the concerns of Tasmanians.

Our three regional advisory committees have given sterling service to the organisation and its members for many years and the policies that are the foundation of our advocacy are the result of their advice.

As our contact with individual members showed, there was a great resource of equally good advice and guidance from potentially thousands of members, and we needed to tap into that.

As a result, with the support of our Board and our Community and Advocacy Committee, we have constructed a new way to use the skills, knowledge and experience of our members more effectively.

We now have two panels of members, which, importantly, includes many of the current regional advisory committee members, to increase our understanding of what members think and want.

Initially we contacted the Tasmanians who participated in our federal election campaign. We have also formed a smaller

expert panel, largely comprised of current regional advisory committee members.

And we are progressively adding to the panels as we ask our members who call in on issues whether they want to join. There’s been 100% acceptance from them so far. That’s a small but important pointer to member enthusiasm for the concept.

There will be regular surveys of panel members on advocacy matters and, of course we need their observations on what they see as important feedback on regional issues – be it roads, road safety, EV charging, land-use planning, public transport, active travel, or heavy vehicles.

Our first survey on road safety went out to panel members in September and we have reported back to them on the results. What we found particularly was a strong alignment with our long-standing positions on enforcement and speed limit setting.

We know, from recent experience, just how influential the views of our members are. When we urged the State Government to reintroduce mobile automated enforcement cameras, a potent weapon was the fact that 83% of members surveyed supported the position. That’s a number that would comfort any decision-maker.

Have your say

Every day members call our contact centres, pop into a branch or give us feedback on our website ract.com.au/ advocacy-feedback-form

If your concern needs to be addressed urgently, you can use one of the following recourses:

For issues relating to State Roads, contact the Department of State Growth - Transport Services. Transport Services also has a 24/7 hotline (1300 139 933) to report any issues such as potholes, damaged signs or barriers and even emergencies or safety hazards.

Head to the Local Government Association of Tasmania website to reach out to the relevant council regarding a local government road.

Alternatively, visit the Snap Send Solve smart phone app to send any road quality or maintenance issues directly to the government or your local council. You need to provide photos as evidence.

For road safety concerns relating to police enforcement, contact the Tasmania Police assistance line on 131 444.

For issues relating to heavy vehicle safety, contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Photo: IStock

On your bike

As a motorcycle rider myself, I understand that Tassie’s roads are unique and our motorcycling touring routes attract locals and visiting riders alike, but even riders with years of experience can come unstuck on our roads.

When I was growing up in Devonport my father was the manager for Avis Rent-a-Car. Avis used to hire motorcycles in those days, and I think that was when I first formed an affection for bikes. I got my motorcycle licence while I was training at the Police Academy and purchased my first road bike, a Suzuki GSX250.

I love riding around Tassie with my group of mates. To be honest, I think we spend more time drinking coffee than riding but it’s just a great way to de-stress especially if you’ve got a demanding job and a hectic lifestyle.

The Huon Valley is one of my favourite rides but pretty much anywhere in Tassie is ideal for motorcyclists. We’re spoilt for choice.

The Channel Highway between Kettering and Cygnet is a personal favourite of mine. The road follows the coast for much of the way and there are some good sections where you’re riding with water on one side and bush on the other.

Our scenery is spectacular, we have plenty of winding roads, and relatively low traffic volumes making it ideal for riding. However, Tassie roads are windier than most and our changing weather can easily catch you out.

Mostly I’m a social rider which means I keep a close eye on the weather and avoid wet days if

possible. But I still carry some wet weather gear with me because despite all your best planning, you do get caught out occasionally. Before I set out for a ride, I always check the tyres, chain and oil as well as a quick visual. I keep my battery on a trickle charger so that’s not an issue.

If you’re unfamiliar with a road, especially a winding one, slow down and ride at a steady, comfortable pace. If you’re the lead rider your mates will usually appreciate the slightly slower speed rather than trying to keep up if they’re not feeling comfortable. It also allows you to enjoy the scenery as well as concentrating on the road.

I ride a cruiser (Indian Chief Vintage) which is principally designed for riding on sealed surfaces. For that reason, I tend to avoid gravel roads but occasionally you do encounter one. Gravel roads can be more challenging, hence the maximum speed limit of 80 km/h on unsealed roads in Tasmania. Again, take it easy and ride to the conditions. It’s better to arrive safe than not at all.

Scott Tilyard Chair, Road Safety Advisory Council

Main photo: Chris Crear

Scott Tilyard

is a

keen motorcyclist and social rider who always carries wet weather gear

Motorcycling is an exhilarating and challenging activity, but motorcyclists are vulnerable road users because they lack adequate protection in the event of a crash, says Scott Tilyard.

in Tassie

Just

Summer adventures

VISIT THE WILDLIFE Experiences TAS

Save up to 10% on experiences all over Tasmania, including Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Bruny Island cruises and Port Arthur Historic tours.*

Go to ract.com.au/experiences-tas

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Experiences NT

EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW Experiences VIC

Save up to 10% on amazing experiences in Victoria, including Melbourne multi-attraction passes, Phillip Island passes and food and wine experiences.* Go to ract.com.au/experiences-vic

VIEW FROM ABOVE Experiences NSW

In NSW, save up to 10% on a variety of amazing experiences such as hot air ballooning in the Hunter Valley, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Tower SKYWALK.* Go to ract.com.au/experiences-nsw

RACT rewards

HARNESS THE SUN I Want Energy

Sunny at your place? Don’t let the sun’s rays bounce off your roof, use them to power your home with I Want Energy.

Get a free smart meter when you have any new solar energy system installed.*

Go to ract.com.au/i-want-energy

GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

EXCITE THE SENSES

Taste of Summer

Visit the Taste of Summer and enjoy food and wine from over 75 local eateries, breweries, distilleries and wineries. Save $5 off a multi-day pass.* Go to ract.com.au/taste-of-summer

CRUISE FOR THE DAY Sealink

Relax

GIFT OF CHOICE eGift Cards

Buy

from over 30 leading retailers.

Save up to 10% on eGift Cards.* Go to ract.com.au/egift-cards

Hand-crafted with brilliant facets and sterling silver, accented with genuine sparkling crystals

Keep Precious Memories Always Close

Those dear to us need never be far from our heart. With fond remembrance and faith, there is comfort. Now, keep the spirit of a loved one shining forever with the “Loving Memories” Teardrop Pendant — a uniquely beautiful jewellery creation as precious as your memories.

The Brilliance of Shimmering Facets and Sterling Silver Hand-crafted in an Exclusive Design

A radiant way to celebrate an everlasting bond, the “Loving Memories” Teardrop Pendant features a stunning design in a touching teardrop shape. Atop the pendant, a graceful stairway leads to a magnificent cross, both crafted in sterling silver and accented with a glittering array of genuine sparkling crystals. The pendant is finished with a 46cm chain of sterling silver.

Money-back guarantee

A keepsake treasure or a meaningful gift to give, this hand-crafted pendant comes in a custom presentation case with a “If Tears Could Build a Stairway” poem card and a Certificate of Authenticity. A remarkable value at just $179.95, you can pay for it in five convenient, interest-free instalments of $35.99, plus $19.99 postage and handling, backed by our unconditional 120-day guarantee of your complete satisfaction. To reserve yours, send no money now; just return the coupon or go online today. But this a limited time offer... so don’t delay!

A Fine Jewellery Exclusive from The Bradford Exchange

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

1 Who was the director of the film Batman Begins?

2 True or False. The population of Tasmania went over one million in 2008?

3 How many times did the Mitsubishi Pajero win the Paris-Dakar rally?

4 Who was Tom Cruise’s first wife?

5 This penal settlement has become a tourist attraction. A natural feature that attracts tourists are the Painted Cliffs. Where are we?

3

(a strong or violent force) to be released (9)

5

6

25 Ghost town situated on the Whyte River in north-east Tasmania (5) 26 A short stanza concluding a ballade (5)

20

7

8

9

15

17

18

An imagined and unrealistically ideal world (9) 28 A message sent by telegraph and then delivered in written or printed form (8) 29 Cause to be loved or liked (6)

21

22

6 A woman’s light, loose undergarment hanging from the shoulders or the waist (9) 7 Using or characterised by irony (6) 8 Belief in the existence of a god or gods (6) 9 Reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); indicate (6) 15 Given freely and generously (9) 17 Valued objects and qualities such as historic buildings (8) 18 A native or inhabitant of an island (8) 20 Native spiny insectivorous egg-laying mammal with a long snout and claws (7)

6 What year did Mark Webber debut in Formula One racing?

7 What were the family names of Romeo and Juliet?

23

21

22

23

25

1 Fishing and oyster capital of Tasmania (2,6) 2 The character or quality of being a snob (8) 3 Officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course (5) 5 (Of synthetic resins and textile fibres) made from polymers or acrylates (7)

25 Pale

with

Crossword Across: 1 Brewer, 4 Car parks, 10 Analogous, 11 Skier, 12 Twine, 13 Persevere, 14 Fat cats, 16 Nail, 19 Ides, 21 Persona, 24 Vertebral, 25 Stile, 26 Cress, 27 Assertive, 28 Suspense, 29 Recess. Down: 1 Beautify,

8 How many countries are larger in area than Australia?

9 Haloumi is what kind of food?

10 Which member of The Beatles was assassinated in 1980?

rear view.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP // Samantha Farr captured this striking Burnie sunset; Helen Burr snapped this blue-ringed octopus having a sunbake; Keith Midson took this serene image at Bridport; Lisa Redmen was entranced by these gum flowers on the West Coast near Hell’s Gate.

Tasmania as captured by our talented members